Manchester United in Dubai: Pogba, Lukaku and first team squad show off skills in the sunshine

Jose Mourinho's side are in the UAE for a week of warm weather training

Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba are with the rest of the Manchester United squad in Dubai. They are pictured during the FA Cup victory over Derby County. Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff

Manchester United's trip to Dubai started ominously when they were greeted by the rare event of pouring rain on Monday night.

But Jose Mourinho's side has since been able to get down to business with some lively training in the warm sunshine.

The club posted a video of the first team squad full of smiles as they took part in a session at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex.

Mourinho, who has been embroiled in a war of words with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte during the past few weeks, had talked up the Dubai trip as a chance to "recover some injured players and tired players" and "work on some tactical details".

He looked much happier than in recent weeks when his side stuttered to draws against Burnley, Leicester and Southampton in the Premier League leaving United 15 points adrift of leaders Manchester City.

Marcus Rashford took time out from training to show off his ball juggling skills while sat on a cold drinks container, and Paul Pogba was shown working on his technique.

Many Premier League clubs come to the UAE after a brutal run of fixtures during the festive period. United played five matches in 14 days but have a gap until they face Stoke on January 15.

Spaniard Juan Mata voiced his appreciation of the break on his blog: “After a long time with games every three or four days, it comes in good timing for the whole team to spend time together and work in that area of the world with such a good climate, especially in a month like January.”

Liverpool have have just returned to the UK from a break in Dubai, while Scottish champions Celtic are here too.

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More football from Dubai:

Celtic enjoy warm weather training session in Dubai - in pictures

Jose Mourinho and Manchester United greeted by heavy rain in Dubai